French 9-year old beaten to death ‘for not doing homework’

Four relatives of a nine-year-old boy who was apparently beaten to death in eastern France were arrested on Wednesday (Nov 21). It was suspected that he was killed for refusing do his homework, prosecutors said.

The boy’s mother wasn’t at home during the incident but was still arrested for questioning. In addition to her, his 20-year-old sister, 19-year-old brother, and the brother’s girlfriend were taken into custody over his death at his home in the city of Mulhouse on Sept 17.

What happened is still unclear, but prosecutors believed he was badly beaten for not doing his homework. The autopsy showed the beating as the probable cause of death.

The boy’s sister, brother and the brother’s girlfriend called emergency services, but paramedics were unable to revive him.